Vote “yes” for the EMS levy for East County Fire and Rescue on the Aug. 19 primary ballot to retain paramedic and ambulance service, which will most likely cease if this second levy doesn’t pass. ECFR serves those who live in the southeast corner of Clark County (excluding the cities of Camas and Washougal).

If it fails and you call 911, there might be no ambulance service as close. You might need to wait 60 additional minutes for another ambulance service and then pay an additional charge. Do you know how to handle these emergencies while driving someone to the hospital in your personal car if the alternate ambulance system can’t come? Heart attack, broken bones, coma, drowning, serious bleeding — could you even carry them to your car by yourself?

The annual levy cost is about $105 per year for $300,000 house for 24-hour service. For more answers, visit www.emsyes.org.

Barbara Rider
Camas

Any loose dog is trouble

I don’t know what people’s problem is with leashing their dog. It’s important to be able to control your dog while it is off leash in case of emergency or if you use dog parks, but it is so incredibly easy to avoid potential tragedies by simply fencing in or leashing your dog.

The more I see the results of loose dogs the more I shake my head. I feel sorry for the dog. It really isn’t their fault, it’s their owner’s.

I will personally never single out a particular breed. All kinds of dogs get into trouble in this county, and all dogs can bite. Any dog is fine if properly controlled, trained and socialized. Pit bulls are the breed of choice right now for some less-than-responsible people. This will change. It used to be Rottweilers and Dobermans. Bull mastiffs might be the next big thing.

Patrick Higbie
Vancouver

FDIC confusion cleared up

There has been a lot of coverage regarding bank deposit account insurance through the FDIC. In most of this coverage, deposits are insured up to $100,000. While this is true, it is only half the story.

On accounts in my name only, up to $100,000 of my deposits are covered. On accounts in my spouse’s name only, up to $100,000 of deposit are covered. On accounts held in both of our names, we each have $100,000 coverage. That is $400,000 coverage right there.

This doesn’t include the $250,000 coverage, each, for retirement accounts. That’s potentially $900,000 coverage for a married couple at each FDIC member bank where the individual has insured accounts. Additionally that’s before any payable-upon-death accounts, where children, grandchildren or other immediate family members are listed as beneficiaries.

FDIC coverage can be confusing and I recommend discussing it with your local bank, or go to www.fdic.gov for more information.

Ron Wysaske
Washougal

Build for through traffic

For replacement of the Interstate 5 Columbia River bridge, Portland wants a “dramatic sight and experience” monument, not an efficient bridge to move traffic. What about planning for protection of Pearson Field and diversion of through traffic to other locations as well as elimination of the traffic bottlenecks that are not addressed? Most citizens think now is the time to correct these issues.

Leave the I-5 Bridge alone. A new bridge and a road is needed for traffic to skirt north of Ridgefield traveling north, west and south — crossing the Columbia between Scappoose and St. Helens, Ore.

Another new bridge and road for traffic to skirt west of Battle Ground and east of Washougal for travel north, east and south crossing the Columbia west or east of Troutdale, Ore., will be needed in the near future to relieve traffic on Interstate 205.

I’d send those designers and planners back to the drawing board.

W. Dale DeTour
Vancouver

Follow lead-safe practices

Approximately 50 percent of the homes in Vancouver and 78 percent in Portland were built before 1980, two years after lead paint was banned. If your home is among this group and its paint is improperly disturbed, your children could be in danger of lead poisoning.

Angie’s List, of which I am founder, conducted an investigation in 2007 and again last month to determine if contractors were taking the right precautions.

Thirty percent of the contractors who responded gave dangerous advice about lead paint compared to 34 percent in 2007. Most of our members who recently had work done that disturbed paint reported that their contractors didn’t give them the EPA’s required lead safety pamphlet.

The federal government will revise that pamphlet in December, and will require contractors who work on older homes to be certified in lead-safe practices beginning in April 2010. If you’re planning to hire a professional, please be sure he or she is certified.

Angie Hicks
Indianapolis, Ind.

Relocate USS Ranger

A July 16 story claimed, “Big Oregon quake could cost $40 billion.” If a major earthquake hits the Oregon coast, it’s reasonable to assume that damage would not stop at the border, and that Washington would likely share in the destruction. A cost-effective relief for such a disaster would be the use of the USS Ranger, a retired Navy aircraft carrier which the USS Ranger Foundation is attempting to bring to the area. Its 5,000-plus beds, medical capabilities, communications and virtual indestructibility would provide a huge benefit to the whole area. The Navy is essentially willing to give the ship to Portland if the city will dedicate a place to keep it. The Ranger would be a first-class tourist attraction, bringing a boost in business to both Portland and Vancouver. It would provide facilities for training in everything from metal work to mechanics.

Port of Portland commissioners appear less than enthusiastic about the project. They should start thinking about the welfare of the community.

Don Beatty
Camas